I had never seen it before and read it with great fascination as an interesting conpendium of historical beliefs about the Reformation which were current when I was young. In spite of the heroic efforts of MacCulloch the old Anglo-Catholic theory still lingers on.

Thank you for calling the blog to my attention. I have also because of your blog greatly enjoyed reading Dr Tighe's book reviews, and rejoice that he is an admirer of Dr Mascall whom I can remember regarding with awe.

I wouldn't let the Continuum Blog worry you too much, Father. I once used to contribute the odd reflection on the Continuum Blog when it was a little less insular, but now that they are trying to provide rather tortuous anti-Roman sentiments to justify their identity and why it must remain pure and removed from what we know to be the Anglicanism of the past, I think rather I'll stay away. All a storm in a rather small, anti-Roman tea cup.

I much prefer reading your work instead, so please keep it up, and, as Fr Anthony would say,

I am also reminded of the use of the term in physics. If an electron is given a strong enough perturbation, it is excited out of a bound state (associated with the nucleus), and into the continuum, where it wonders off into oblivion.

I tried to post a comment there a couple of days ago after seeing a series of anti-TAC/Anglo-Catholic posts. My view concerned the reasonableness of reunion with Rome, and politely asking why Fr. Hart was so threatened by this. The comment was evidently deleted.

One of the ironic things about the Continuum 'blog is that many of the prominent commenters are not, in fact, regular worshippers at any actual church whatsoever. One admits that he has found all existing Anglican conventicles to be wanting in some way, and so conducts services for himself at home.

If this is what is meant by Anglican identity, then they are welcome to it!

Looking at it again I am struck by the fact that contributors are so very long- winded and ignore completely such a key doctrine as the Royal Supremacy. They talk as if the C of E in its early years was a free agent able to choose what it would teach rather than accept what the state ordered.

Fr John Hunwicke

was for nearly three decades at Lancing College; where he taught Latin and Greek language and literature, was Head of Theology, and Assistant Chaplain. He has served three curacies, been a Parish Priest, and Senior Research Fellow at Pusey House in Oxford. Since 2011, he has been in full communion with the See of S Peter. The opinions expressed on this Blog are not asserted as being those of the Magisterium of the Church, but as the writer's opinions as a private individual. Nevertheless, the writer strives, hopes, and prays that the views he expresses are conformable with and supportive of the Magisterium. In this blog, the letters PF stand for Pope Francis.